Multiposter



March 28, 1967 L. c. GROVER MULTIPOSTER Filed Nov. 24, 1964 INVENTOR. LAFAYETTE Cl-IACE MOVE/3 BY 23% -11 Z4;

United States Patent 3,310,897 MULTIPOSTER Lafayette Chace Grover, 582 Market St., San Francisco, Calif. 94104 Filed Nov. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 413,592 2 Claims. (Cl. 4036) This invention relates to an advertising display device and more particularly relates to a display device suitable for installation on buses or streetcars wherein a plurality of individual cards are individually brought into a display position and periodically changed.

Such devices which have been proposed in the past have suffered from a number of defects. Thus, it has ordinarily been necessary to mount the individual cards in some form of frame or to attach the cards to an endless belt. This results in a heavy and bulky structure and also one which is quite expensive. Further, there is a large labor consumption in changing the advertising messages. In contrast, the device of the present invention utilizes ordinary printed sheets such as ordinary weight cardboard and it is not necessary to mount the individual cards in a frame or belt. Further, it is easy to change some or all of the advertising cards since it is only necessary to open the machine, pull out one stack of cards, and insert another stack.

The devices which have heretofore been proposed have been relatively bulky and heavy while the device of the present invention is small and is lightweight.

Some devices which have been proposed in the past have required a reciprocating motion wherein arms move back and forth to pick up and discharge the cards. In contrast, the device of the present invention uses primary rotating parts with a minimum of complicated parts so that the device is inexpensive, has a low energy requirement and has a long service life.

In the devices heretofore employed using holders, it is necessary to supply a fixed number of cards equal to the number of holders While with the device of the present invention any number of cards may be used up to the capacity of the device.

Other advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the balance of the specification.

In the drawings forming a part of the application:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged plan view of the device shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view of FIGURE 3.

Referring now to a description of the drawings by reference characters, the device includes a protective covering, generally designated 5, having a smoothly rounded top 7, a smoothly rounded bottom 9, a slightly rounded back portion 11, and a substantially flat front portion 13. In the front portion, a glass viewing opennig 15 is provided, which has a top hinge 17 and a bottom clasp 19. Side members 21 and 23 are provided to make an entirely enclosed unit. A spring 25 urges a stack of cards 27 toward the viewing window 15 so that the front card in the stack is visible through the window 15. Since the bottom portion 9 is slanted in front, as is shown best in FIGURE 3, the stack of cards within the device is not held in rigid horizontal alignment, but rather fans out against the bottom member, as is shown.

A shaft 29 mounted on slides 31 and turned by motor 33 is provided with a plurality of wheel members 35. Although four wheel members are shown, it is obvious that as few as two could be employed, or that a greater number than four might also be employed. The outer surface of each of the wheels 35 is covered with a material having a high coefficient of friction such as rubber, shown in the form of a rubber tire at 37. Springs 39 and 41 normally urge the wheels 35 out of contact with the cards. A second shaft 43 is mounted for rotation on the side members 21 and 23 and is driven at a low rate of speed by means of a geared-down motor 45. The shaft 43 is provided with earns 47 and 49, each of which has lobes 51 and 53, located apart.

A lever arm 55 is connected to arm 57 which is pivoted at 59. The arm 57 has a downturned end 61 and is normally biased upwardly by means of a spring 63. The arm 55 is provided with a cam follower 65. Two sets of arms and cams have been shown in the drawing, although in many instances it will suffice to employ only a single set of arms located near the center of the machine.

The operation of the device is as follows. In the normal position of the parts, as is shown in FIGURE 3, the wheels 35 are rotating, but are not in contact with any of the cards, so that the cards are stationary, and the front card is on display. As the shaft 43 slowly turns, lobe 51 of the cam will contact the slide 31, moving the rotating wheels into contact with the back card on stack 27. Since shaft 29 is rotating at a relatively high rate of speed, the back card will be pulled off of the stack and will be sent, by inertia, at a high rate of speed around the back of the device, as is shown in the arrows of FIG- URE 3. Simultaneously, lobe 53 contacts cam follower 65, causing the downturned end 61 to contact the front card on stack 27, pulling it back slightly from the window 15, allowing the moving card to drop into the front of the stack and in viewing position through the window 15. Naturally, the time of contact of the wheels 35 with the back card must be kept very short, so that only one card will be moved at a time. When the cam lobe 53 turns further and comes in contact with slide 31, the cycle will be repeated and so on.

As has been mentioned before, the device of the present invention is lightweight, small size, and uses ordinary cards which are not mounted in a frame or in any other manner. If one desires to change the cards, it is only necessary to open the front door utilizing the clasp 19, whereupon the cards can be swung forwardly and one stack of cards can be removed and another stack inserted.

Many variations can be made in a device of the present invention without departing from the spirit of this invention. Although two motors have been shown for driving the two shafts, a single motor might be employed, with gearing bet-ween the two shafts. Although four of the wheels for moving the cards have been shown, any number from two up might be employed. Further, an aird-riven motor might be substituted for the electric motors shown.

I claim:

1. An advertising display device comprising in combination:

(a) a holder for a plurality of individual display cards, said holder having smoothly rounded back, top and bottom portions;

(b) a transparent window whereby the foremost card of a plurality of cards in said holder is visible;

(c) a shaft driven at a relatively high rate of speed, mounted behind the plurality of individual display cards, said shaft having a plurality of wheels thereon, said wheels being normally held out of contact with the cards;

(d) cam means for periodically bringing said wheels into momentary contact with the rearmost card of said plurality of cards, whereby the rearmost card 3 4 is moved rapidly downwardly 01f the back of the References Cited by the Examiner stagktand tratyels b3fl itrrilertiila 1azirounddthe bottom, baclr, UNITED STATES PATENTS an op por ion 0 e 0 er an assumes a POSltion in the front of the stack of cards. 11/1941 Hutchmson 3,197,901 8/1965 Alleman 4078 2. The device of claim 1, wherein a reciprocating me-m- 5 her is employed to periodically pull back the foremost v member of a plurality of cards, whereby a new card can EUGENE CAPOZIO Puma), Emmme" be dropped in front of the stack of cards. W. GRIEB, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ADVERTISING DISPLAY DEVICE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A HOLDER FOR A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL DISPLAY CARDS, SAID HOLDER HAVING SMOOTHLY ROUNDED BACK, TOP AND BOTTOM PORTIONS; (B) A TRANSPARENT WINDOW WHEREBY THE FOREMOST CARD OF A PLURALITY OF CARDS IN SAID HOLDER IS VISIBLE; (C) A SHAFT DRIVEN AT A RELATIVELY HIGH RATE OF SPEED, MOUNTED BEHIND THE PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL DISPLAY CARDS, SAID SHAFT HAVING A PLURALITY OF WHEELS THEREON, SAID WHEELS BEING NORMALLY HELD OUT OF CONTACT WITH THE CARDS; (D) CAM MEANS FOR PERIODICALLY BRINGING SAID WHEELS INTO MOMENTARY CONTACT WITH THE REARMOST CARD OF SAID PLURALITY OF CARDS, WHEREBY THE REARMOST CARD IS MOVED RAPIDLY DOWNWARDLY OFF THE BACK OF THE STACK AND TRAVELS BY INERTIA AROUND THE BOTTOM, BACK, AND TOP PORTION OF THE HOLDER AND ASSUMES A POSITION IN THE FRONT OF THE STACK OF CARDS. 